Nathan Cleverly says he’s fired up and ready to knock-out Karo Murat after the German accused him of being gobby. The pair clash in an Eliminator for the WBO World Light-Heavyweight title at the LG Arena, Birmingham, on September 18 on Frank Warren’s huge Magnificent Seven event, live on Sky Box Office. Undefeated Murat stoked the flames ahead of their fight by laying into the Welshman. Warning him that he was “no Joe Calzaghe”, Murat said that Cleverly was nothing more than a “big talker” and should keep his mouth shut..
But the unbeaten European champion – who also holds the British belt – has fired a verbal warning across the channel.
“Joe was probably one of the best fighters to ever come of out of Britain and I’ve never claimed to be as good as him.
“I’ve had the best schooling by training and sparring with Joe for so many years, but now it’s my time to break through and become a big name ” said 23-year-old Cleverly.
“One thing that Calzaghe did was knock out a German in the first round, and I definitely want to follow in his footsteps with regard to that!
“To me, it looks like Murat is the one who’s got a big mouth, but I’ll shut it for him when we get it on.”
Murat also said that British fans will love him because they like exciting boxers.
But Cleverly had an answer to that too.
“British fans are the best in the world, and they will get behind you if you are any good,” he said.
“But the one thing they like more than an exciting boxer is a German who is flat on his back, and I’ll deliver that for them on September 18.”
Tickets for the Magnificent Seven are priced at £40, £50, £80, £150 and £200 and are available from:
LG Arena
0844 338 8000
Ticketmaster
0844 844 0444
www.ticketmaster.co.uk
Alexander Frenkel, Karo Murat ready to travel into lions´ den
Unbeaten German sensations Karo Murat (22-0, 13 KOs) and Alexander Frenkel (22-0, 17 KOs) face the biggest tests of their young careers on September 18 when they travel to Birmingham for a special night of boxing at the LG Arena. Murat takes on Nathan Cleverly (19-0, 9 KOs) in a WBO Light Heavyweight Title Eliminator, while Frenkel challenges European Cruiserweight Champion Enzo Maccarinelli (32-4, 25 KOs). “There is so much talent on our team and I am convinced that both Karo and Alexander will be future champions,” said promoter Kalle Sauerland. “They are unbeaten and fearless and they are travelling to England to shock the boxing world.”
Murat is oozing with confidence. “First I will defeat Cleverly and then I will chase down WBO Champion Jurgen Brahmer,” he said. “Cleverly appears to be a big talker. I have read interviews where he puts himself on the same level with Joe Calzaghe. There is no way he is in the same league with him so he should not be saying something like that.”
Murat knows it will be a tough fight. “He is pretty big, so it will not be easy to get to him,” he added. “But a lot of my opponents have been bigger than me – like Tommy Carpency, Sergey Demchenko and Gabriel Campillo – and I have defeated all of them. I am still unbeaten. I really look forward to travelling to Birmingham. The British fans love to see good boxing and that is why they will like me.”
Just like Murat, Frenkel is full of confidence ahead of the biggest fight of his career. “I don´t care about the name of my opponent – all that matters to me is the title that is on the line,” he said. “For me every fight is the most important fight of my career. I have never been to England before so I am really keen to go there to win my fight and see a bit of the country. I am looking forward to it.”